MARINE TURBINE APPLICATION IN WASTE HEAT RECOVERY

SYSTEMS
Andrzej Adamkiewicz*, Bartomiej Wietrzyk**
Maritime University of Szczecin
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Ship Power Plant Operation
Way Chrobrego 1-2, 70-500 Szczecin, Poland
*e-mail: andrzej.adamkiewicz@am.szczecin.pl
**e-mail: w.bartek@wp.pl
Abstract
This study shows an analysis of a ship power plant with waste heat recovery
systems Thermo
Efficiency System (TES) with main engine exhaust gases utilization and exhaust power gas and steam turbines
application. The systems were compared each other. The energetic efficiency in chosen waste heat recovery
systems was compared. The advantages and disadvantages of turbines application in waste heat recovery systems
were listed in a summary.

Keywords: turbine, engine, waste heat energy, recovery, ship, power plant,
1. Introduction
Ships engine room efficiency determines the stage of the heat, which is received by fuel
oil combustion in the main components of her power plants. Modern solutions of ships power
plants ensure the biggest possible efficiencies of converting fuel oil chemical energy for other
aspects. One of the methods increasing efficiency of the power plant is recovering the heat
which is lost with exhaust gases, main engine cooling water and charging air [2, 3, 4, 5].
Solution of this problem is possible through maximization of waste heat recovery generated by
marine diesel engines and applying it in other installations to produce heat, electric and
mechanical or combination of these energies. As a consequence of increasing main propulsion
unit power of modern ships (increasing its deadweight), is forming a surplus energy which is
produced in exhaust gas boilers as heating steam. In these circumstances, applying the
combined waste heat recovery systems with exhaust gas and steam turbo generators is rational.
There are a lot of waste heat recovery systems possible to apply on the motor ships. Their
configuration depends on type of the vessel, her capacities, operating speeds and the output
values implemented by the main propulsion plant [2]. Selection of the system solution on the
specific ship should be result of widely comprehended, penetrating technical-economical
analysis, based on solid mounts of thermodynamic and reliability analysis methods keeping
the engine room mobility.
2. Waste heat energy availability
Main and auxiliary engines are sources of waste heat energy in ships propulsion plant.
Quantity of these streams are diversified, energy included inside is not utilized fully. Waste
heat energy losses size depend on main propulsion plant which has been used (diesel engine

or/and gas turbine). Low speed diesel engines have the highest thermal efficiency which is
formed in range between 4555% (for comparison the turbine engines have lower thermal
efficiency even 20%) [3, 4, 7]. Waste heat energy include heat losses of an exhaust gases,
scavenging air and cooling water streams.
Increasing ships energetic power plant efficiency is lashed with taking off assist of huge,
available waste heat energy streams coming from main components of the system. On the
pictures no. 1, 2 there are adequately heat balance diagrams of marine low speed diesel engines
without and with recovery of energy, 12RT-flex96C type [9] and 12K98ME/MC type [8] on
Fig. 3 and 4. Both of the engines evolve the 68640 kW output power which is realized with 94
rev/min.

Fig.1 Heat balance diagram of marine low speed diesel engine 12RT-flex96C type [9]

In WARTSILA solution, both waste heat recovery system uses exhaust gas stream
generated by main propulsion plant and scavenging air and cooling water streams. The biggest,
possible waste heat recovery stream is carried by exhaust gases leaving the main engine. The
lesser are: scavenge air, cooling water and lubricating oil streams. Systems offered by MAN
B&W utilize only the exhaust gas stream. Overall efficiency of these engines without recovery
is equal in total 49,3%.

Fig. 2 Heat balance diagram of marine low speed diesel engine 12RT-flex96C type cooperating with waste heat
recovery system [9]

Fig. 3 Heat balance diagram of marine low speed diesel engine 12K98ME/MC type [8]

Fig. 4 Heat balance diagram of marine low speed diesel engine 12K98ME/MC type
cooperating with waste heat recovery system [8]

3. Waste heat recovery systems

There are a lot of waste heat recovery systems with exhaust and steam turbines [7, 8, 9].
They are representing various energetic efficiency.
In this study, the standard, referencing solution of waste heat recovery system is system
with exhaust power gas turbine, working according to the scheme shown on Fig. 8. The basic
waste heat recovery system consists of a main engine with high efficiency turbochargers,
exhaust power gas turbine via reduction gear and clutch driven AC generator. The energy of
exhaust gases, leaving the main engine, is partly recovered in a turbochargers to compress,
charge air or supply the exhaust power gas turbine driving the generator. About 10% of exhaust
gas leaving the main engine is used to drive the generator [8]. The exhaust gases are being
carried off through the cumulative manifold to the funnel in which there dampers installed and
then to the atmosphere.
This solution is an alternative source of producing an electric power and now it is being
introduced to the new building ships.

Fig. 5 Waste heat recovery system with exhaust power gas turbine [8]

Engine working waste heat recovery system (Fig. 8) is equipped with an air waste gate,
stifle valve aim at keeping the normal cylinder pressure without the other restrictions at the
very low intake air temperatures. At present, the propulsion plant cooperating with waste heat
recovery systems can work at the intake air temperatures maintaining at the level of 5 to 35
centigrade. After exceeding the maximal pressure in a cylinder, the flow rate of exhaust gases
feeding the exhaust power gas turbine, turbine and generator rotor speed would increase. It will
cause the generator load disturbance.
Adopting the main engine to work at lower intake air temperatures involves the costs of
fuel oil consumption, however the rate of recovered energy compensates this disadvantage.
Exhaust power turbine is working in the range 55100% of main engine load. Exhaust gas
outflow is controlled by orifice on the outlet of the exhaust gas receiver, keeping the constant
value of exhaust gas flow rate feeding the power turbine. In this way, the constant turbine load
rate is being kept. With the main engine output lower than 55%, the exhaust gases feeding the
turbine are being cut off. The air flow which is given by turbochargers is too low to generate
properly large exhaust gas flow rate to ensure stabilized turbine load rate. Expand stage and

exhaust gas flow rate value are compared with suitable turbochargers parameters. Turbine
outlet exhaust gases temperature is close to the temperature after the turbocharger.
Basic waste heat recovery system (Fig. 5) is often compared to the system with the exhaust
gas boiler and steam turbine driving the generator. These systems are different in respect to the
configuration and outputs. On the picture 6 there is waste heat recovery system with steam
turbine feeding the steam from exhaust gas boiler [9].

Fig. 6 Waste heat recovery system with an exhaust gas boiler and steam turbine [9]

On the Fig. 7 there is waste heat recovery system with an exhaust gas boiler exhaust power
gas turbine and shaft generator. This system consists of main engine, turbochargers, exhaust
gas turbine mechanically connected with the generator, exhaust gas boiler, shaft generator and
self-contained auxiliary engines feeding the common board grid Described system differs from
above one in relation to waste heat energy division between turbines.
Main exhaust gas energy stream: carrying by exhaust gases, after energy conversion in
turbochargers is divided in two: exhaust gas stream heating the exhaust gas boiler and exhaust
gas stream feeding the power turbine. During main engine working one part of exhaust energy
stream is used to produce heating steam in exhaust gas boiler. Second part of this exhaust gas
stream is converted by power turbine set mechanically connected with the generator to electric
energy for the board grid. Controlling of the exhaust gas amount feeding the power turbine is
realized in relation of main engine load through an orifice. About 10% of exhaust gases energy
are used in this waste heat recovery system in power turbine.
Exhaust gases leaving the exhaust power gas turbine are guided to exhaust gas boiler too.

Fig. 7 Waste heat recovery system with an exhaust gas boiler, power turbine and shaft generator [8]

The efficiency of whole system is increased by a shaft generator application. This

generator can work in a two variants. It can taking off the energy to the board grid or taking in
assist the main propulsion plant. Engine running variant can be used for reduce fuel oil
consumption amount with the reduced main engine output. The second variant is electric
energy production for ship requirements, while the waste heat recovery system is stopped.
Beyond supplying the electric power, this system, allows to save the fuel oil (even to 5%
per year) and essentially reduces the emission of toxic combustion substances.
Advanced waste heat recovery system, shown on Fig. 8 consists of an exhaust gas boiler,
steam turbine, exhaust power turbine, synchronous generator driven by these turbines and shaft
generator working for the board grid. Exhaust power gas turbine impeller connected with steam
turbine impeller via power transferring system (reduction gear and clutch) drives the AC
generator. Steam turbine is fed by superheated steam from the exhaust gas boiler. Shaft
generator application increases whole efficiency of the system. This solution has been used for
a first time on m/v Gudrun Maersk containership [9].

Fig. 8 Advanced waste heat recovery system with an exhaust power turbine, steam turbine and shaft generator [9]

Combined system application with en exhaust and steam turbine considerably increases its
efficiency and reliability. Due to increase of an electric energy production at main engine loads
above 50%, system efficiency grows even to 10% (see Fig. 9).
One possibility to improve the efficiency of the recovery of more heat without increasing
the heat exchange surfaces can be applied fluidized bed exhaust boiler [1].
4. Chosen aspects of turbine application advisability in waste heat recovery systems
Economical efficiency of examined waste heat recovery systems with exhaust and steam
turbines can be measure of its quality solution assessment [6]. Its final measurement will
always be derivative brief fore designs accepted for the specific ship, conditions of her
operating and stabilized technical economical criterion. In this study, it was restricted to some
aspects of turbine applications in waste heat recovery systems [5, 6].
Profitability of use and operate turbine in waste heat recovery system is conditioned by
vessel state operating (sailing speed and the power involved by the main propulsion plant)and
the time of being in its, which determines the quantity of energy possible to utilize. Modern
waste heat recovery systems, with gas and steam turbines or their combination, are different
due to their configuration, machines property and working parameters.
With increasing the exhaust power gas turbine output, disposal waste heat recovery
streams increases in waste heat recovery system. The power turbine output increases and as a
consequence the amount of the saved fuel combusted by propulsion plant increases too [9]. On
Fig. 9 there are example ranges of possible output values reached by exhaust power gas turbine
in relation to main engine output type 12K98ME/MC manufactured by MAN B&W [8].

Fig. 9 Exhaust power gas turbine output waste heat recovery system in relation to main engine power [8]

With the main engine power 41130 kW exhaust power gas turbine working in TCS PTG
system evolves repayable power 2260 kW.
As a result of extracting specified outputs, there are fuel oil savings shown for the same engine
on Fig. 10 in relation to exhaust power gas turbine output and main engine operating hours [8].

Fig. 10 Prediction fuel oil savings obtained as a result of waste heat recovery application in relation to exhaust
turbine output [8]

In a case of waste heat recovery system with exhaust power gas turbine output 1650 kW, after
6000 working hours, the 2000 tons of fuel oil can be saved in a year. Such rational advantage
coming from waste heat recovery system application can be gained in case of huge main
propulsion plants, here exceeding 40000 kW [8].
5. Thermodynamic analysis of examined waste heat recovery system
Exhaust gases ability was analyzed to conversion part of the waste to effective electric
energy with intermediate aspect reciprocating energy generated by power turbine. On the Fig. 5
there is basic waste heat recovery system with alluvial points enable the thermodynamic
identification. Inlet exhaust gas parameters marked as 1, outlet parameters as 2.
Large flow rate and exhaust gases temperatures relatively keeping at the same level ensure
working stability of power turbine and constant internal efficiency close to project value. On
table 1 there are technical data of radial and axial power turbines applying in waste heat
recovery systems manufactured by MAN B&W [8]. Expand stage turbine t is 3,3, exhaust gas
temperature before turbine is 4500C.
Tab. 1. Basic technical data of power turbines

They can work in system TCS/PTG (Turbo Compound System/Power Turbine Generator) the
system taking off main engine assistance/exhaust power generator set.
For the turbines described in table 1 the disposal enthalpy drops were calculated according
to the dependence [3, 4, 6]:
hsT =

Pe
m exh iT mT

(1)

and heat streams [4, 6]:

Q t = m exh hst

(2)

The results of calculations are show in table 2. The biggest heat streams convert axial power
turbines whereas disposal enthalpy drop values render that it can be even single stage turbines.
Bigger disposal enthalpy drops are converted by radial power turbines, in comparison with
axial they give less outputs. Higher output values gained by axial turbines are result of bigger
flow rates exhaust gases conversion. Bigger turbines internal efficiencies are fostering in
gaining higher axial turbine outputs, which influences on waste heat recovery system
efficiency.

Tab. 2. Calculated dispose enthalpy and heat streams in turbine

Turbine type
TCS PTG 16
TCS PTG 18
TCS PTG 20
TCS PTG 22
TCS PTG 55
TCS PTG 66

Radial power turbines

hsT [kJ/kg]
266,6
279,1
275,1
235,9
Axial Power turbines
210,5
209,1

Q T [kW]
799,8
1200,13
1733,13
3066,7
3999,5
5645,7

5. Summary and conclusion

Heat balance diagrams analysis of marine low speed diesel engines confirms possibility
and advisability use of waste heat recovery energy in marine energetic power plants. Marine
engine power output, temperature of medium feeding the waste heat recovery system (exhaust
gases, cooling water), pressure and flow rate factor determine the quantity of available heat in
waste heat recovery system. Exhaust gas and steam turbine application takes effect in
additional electric energy production, fuel oil savings and limitation of emission toxic
substances to the atmosphere [8]. Exhaust gas and steam turbine cooperating increases systems
efficiency especially in direction to enlarge of electric energy production. Use character of
waste heat recovery system with power turbine is conditioned by continuity of steady turbine
work at main engines load ranges above 50% rated power ensuring adequately large waste heat
streams carrying by exhaust gases. Quantity of saved energy can be estimated after penetrating
analysis of each other of waste heat recovery systems.
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[9] www.wartsila.com
Praca naukowa finansowana ze rodkw na nauk w latach 2009-2012 jako projekt
badawczy wasny nr N N509 404536.